Remotely controlled flow valve operating tool



April 17, 19.45. BOYNTON 2,373,647

REMOTELY CONTROLLED FLOW \[ALVE OPERATING TOOL Original Filed'Dec. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- 114i. O jwm,

141610026767 Boynlbw,

A. BOYNTON A ril 17; 1945.

REMOTELY CONTROLLED FLOW VALVE OPERATING TOOL Original Filed Dec. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1, 4 U l Alexanderfloynion,

Patented Apr. 1 7, 1945 Q a REMoTELY CONTROLLED FLOW VALVE OPERATING r001.

, Alexander Boynton, San Antonio, T ex.; Sida S. Martin executrix of said Alexander Boynton,

deceased Original application December .6, 1941, Serial No.

1943, Serial N0. 487,940

421,934. Divided and this-application May 21,

4 Claims.

Mywinvention has for itsobject to provide a tool -for use in operating remotely controlled flow valves for wells, such valves, for instance, as those disclosed. in my applications filed December 6,

1941; Serial Numbers 421,934 and 421,935.

Inthe drawings, Fig. 1 is mainly a longitudinal section through a preferred embodiment ofa device employing. my present invention and showing the pressure fluid intake valve open-with the releasing connection and portions of the device inelevation, a. Fig- 2 is a diagrammatic View of th slots. pockets, and helically inclined cam surfaces of the tool. g I

Fig. 3 is a diagram" of the slots, pockets, and

helically inclined cam surfaces of the actuator.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the 1ine 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of-Fig. 1. 6 is a cross section on the line 6--B of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate similar parts in all the figures. I

In Fig.1, the nipple I,- having the lateral slot Ic andthe pressure fluid intake port Id; is adapted to be connected at intervals into the eduction tubing 54 of a well. 'The lateral shell I a, which maybe cast of steel integrally with the nipple I, has the smooth bore I 1) within which the actuator 2 and the actuator pin housing I are slidable. The housing 4 has the cross bore 4a which closely receives the actuator pin 5, having-a head slidable within the slot la of the nipple I and extending a short distance, such as one-fourth inch, within the axial passage throughthe nipple. The guide pin '3 is secured 'firinly in the shell Ia and extends thereinto far enough to be'engaged within and up'on the" pin pockets and inclined cam surfaces of the actuator, as will appear further on.

"The axle bolt '6 is received with slight clearance the actuator spring 9, having slight clearance around'it and being confined within the bore lb by thei plug Ill employed to close the upper end of the shell la.' The thrust bearing" 811 i confined between the actuator 2 and the housing 4, and the thrust bearing -8 is confined between the actuator 2 and the washer 1, the'head ofthebolt 6 having guiding the plunger to concentrically engage the seat [1c and thereby close the path of pressure.

' away from its seat I'Ic when the guide pin 3 is.

slight clearance with the washer 'I, in order that the bearings 8 and 8awill be free.

A differential spring II, free Within the axial chamber 41) of the housing 4, isconfined therein by the spring support I5 secured to said housing. The sleeve I4, slidable within the spring support I5, ha its head engaged between this support and the differential spring I I. The plunger chamber sleeve II, secured within the shell Ia, has formed within it the plunger chamber I'Ia the metering chamber ,I'Ib, the axial pressure fluid passage H11, and the closure seat IIc formed around the'lower end of the passage "(1. The plunger I3, havingits upper end formed into a valve engageable with the seat. I I0, has proper clearance around it for pressure fluid and has the fins I3a engaged upon the slidable ring I3aa which in turn engages the plunger seating spring I8 which spring is secured withinthe lower portion of the chamber I'Ia by the intake nipple I9 having the intake passage I91: and being threadedly engagedwithin the lower end of the sleeve IT. This nipple protects the spring I8 from the corrosive action of pressure fluid entering the de-- vice through the. intake passage I9a. The screw I6 isemployed to close the opening made in drilling the port ld.. r r

The plunger rod I2, secured to the plunger I3, has the arms 12a adapted to engage. upon the sleeve I1, in order to position the plunger in spaced relation to the seat IIc when the device is open to intake pressure fluid. as in Fig. 1. The upper end of the rod I2 isslidable through the sleeve I4 and the fins. I3a of the plunger are slidable within the chamber I'm for the purpose of fluid through the device during high differentials.

The difierential spring I I transmitting its force through sleeve I4 resiliently urges the plunger I3 is adapted to be forced upward, as appears in Fig.

1, while the device is intaking pressure fluid. This valve is adapted also to engage'a seat formed upon the upper end of the intake nipple I9 when the device i not 'intaking pressure fluid.

, The actuator assembly is adapted to become stationary in two positions. One'of these posi- It will be observed in Fig. 3 that the upper pin pockets and helically inclined cam surfaces are rotatably offset with relation to the position of the lower pin pockets and helically inclined cam surfaces; that is, the shallow upper pin pocket 2a is opposed by the lower helically inclined cam surface 29; the deep upper pin pocket 2b i opposed by the lower helically inclined cam surface 2h; the lower pin pocket 20 is opposed by the upper helically inclined cam surface 2e; and the lower pin pocket 2d is opposed by the upper helically inclined cam surface 2f.

The inclined cam surfaces 2c, 2, 29, andZh, and the lower pin pockets 2c and 2d manipulate the actuator in its various contacts with the guide pin 3, as will later be explained.

Subsurface installation By way of illustrating the best presently known mode of applying the invention, it will be understood that the devices disclosed may be installed in series at spaced intervals in the eduction tubing 54 of a well. The distance between proxi mate devices may be, for example, 200 to 500 feet. Any desired number of devices may be employed, series of three to seven being adapted to meet the most ordinary well conditions.

Operation Each vertical movement of the actuator is caused by a cable pullupon the actuator pin or by the actuator spring thereafter forcing the actuator in the opposite direction. All rotational movements of the actuator are caused by the stationary guide pin acted upon by the helically inclined cam surfaces of the actuator during its vertical movements. The vertical and rotary movements of the actuator are coincidental. Whenever the actuator is pulled upward, one of the lower inclined cam surfaces contacts the guide pin to cause partial rotation of the actuator. Whenever the actuator is forced downward by the actuator spring, one of the upper inclined cam surfaces contacts the guide pin to cause continued limited rotation of 'tha actuator.

The path of pressure fluid through the open device and into the tubing 54 is via the intake passage I9a, the plunger chamber Ila, the pressure fluid passage IId, and the pressure fluid in-' take port Id, in the order named.

The actuator pin 5, which extends slightly into the flow passage through the nipple; is adapted to be releasably engaged by the Operating tool 52,

r Fig. 1, in a manner to be described further on.

To close the device, it being open, as in Fig. 1 wherein the guide pin 3 is engaged within the deep upper pocket 2b, proceed as follows: Attach the operating tool 52 to the actuator pin 5 and pull the actuator 2 upward. The lower inclined cain surface 2h will contact theguide pin 3 and will cause the actuator to be rotated slightly until this pin will be engaged within the lower pocket 20. Then, release the pull upon the actuator pin 5; whereupon the actuator spring 9 will force the actuator downward, causing the upper inclined cam surface 2e to contact the pin 3; Whereby the actuator will be rotated further until shallow upper pocket 2a will contain the pin 3. In this position pressure fluid during relatively high differentials urges the plunger I3 against the valve seat "0, thereby cutting off the flow of pressure fluid. The upper position of the sleeve I 4 removes restraint of thisupward movement of the plunger I3.

To open the device, it being closed, the guide pin 3 being engaged within the shallow upper pocket 2a, proceed as follows: Attach the operating tool 52 to the actuator pin 5 and pull the actuator 2 upward. The lower inclined cam surface 2 g will engage the guide pin 3 and cause the actuator to be rotated slightly until this pin will be engaged within the lower pocket 2d. Then, release the pull upon the actuator pin 5; whereupon the spring 9 will force the actuator downward, causing the upper inclined cam surface 2 to contact the pin 3; whereby the actuator will be rotated further until the deep upper pocket 2b will. contain the pin 3 again, as in Fig. 1. In this position the sleeve I4 limits upward movement of the plunger I3. Thus this plunger cannot engage the seat I'Ic underthe influence of pressure fluid and the passage for pressure fluid is kept open. 7

It will be understood that the differential spring I I will be stronger than the plunger seating spring I8 when the spring II is compressed as in Fig. 1. When the device is open, the spring H compresses the spring I8. When the device is closed the spring I8 forces the plunger to engage the closure seat I'lc to stop the flow of pressure fluid through the passage I'Id after the spring I I has been raised and the sleeve I4 has been removed from contact with the arms I211 of the plunger rod I2.

Manifestly the spring I8 can be moved into the chamber 422 andgiven proper contact means with the upper end of the rod I2 to lift the plunger so as to close the passage IId when the actuator is raised.

When the device is open, as in Fig, 1, high differentials will cause the plunger I3 to close upon the seat I11: and cut off the flow of pressure fluid into the device. For example, if a pressure fluid differential of pounds in the plunger chamber IIa will seat the plunger, it is apparent that the device will close its intake whenever there is less than 100 pounds of load in the tubing above the open device, and that the pressure fluid inlet will open again whenever a load of more than 100 pounds reappears in the tubing above the open device.

When the device is closed it is obvious that the force 'of the spring I8 is aided by the differential force in causing the plunger I3 to remain firmly engaged upon its seat I 10.

If, between flowing operations, however, well liquid entrapped within the tubing by a check valve therein. should outweigh the pressure fluid force exterior of any device, the check valve I31) will prevent the escape of liquid through such device.

The operating tool releases this pin. After each pull upon the pin,

the tool maybe lowered through the device and then withdrawn from'the well or it may belowered to the next device forsimilar action.

The outstanding operative characteristic'ofthe tool 52 is as follows: It will landupon each device upon" which it is lowered; Then one pull upon the tool will open the device'if closed or close the device if open. The tool then-may be lowered through the device which has last been pulled upon, after which it may be either raised out of the well or lowered to the next device to open it if closed or to close it if open, as-was stated for the action of the tool upon'the valve above.

When the tool 52 encounters the actuator pin 5', the lower. guide-slope or cam surface 52a will rotate the tool to receive the pin within the entrance slot 521;. The first upper helically inclined cam surface 520 will rotate the-tool to engage the pin within the pin pocket 52d, which arrests the downward movement of the tool. Then, when the tool is raised by the cable, the first l0wer helically inclined cam surface 52c will cause the lower pin pocket 52 to contain the pin; whereby the actuator 2 will be raised as the cable is pulled upon and the guide pin 3 will be contained in one of the upper pockets 2a or 21); thereby opening the device if the pin contact was changed from the shallow upper pocket 2a to-the deep upper pocket 2b and closing the device if this change was from the deep pocket 21) to'the shallow pocket 2a. When the cable pull is released, the second a upper helically inclined cam surface 529 will rotate the tool so as to cause the exit slot 52h to pass over the pin. The tool is then free to be tool 52 will change the device from open to closed,

and vice versa. Manifestly, two cable pulls, spaced by a release of the tool, will enable the tool tobe passed through any device; thereby leaving that device in the same position as before: being pulled upon the first time. Thus the first pull changes the original condition of the device, whatever it might be, but the second pull restores the device to its original condition. Any change in the device is only temporary and of the briefest duration, if it is desired to lower the tool past a device and leave it in the condition in which it is found.

For illustration, it will be assumedthat there are several devices in a well, and that the upper device is open, all other devices being closed. Now, to close the upper device and open the third device, for example, proceed as follows: Lower the operating tool 52 until it contacts the upper device and pull once. That will close the upper device. Then, lower the tool to the second device which is closed and which it is desired to leave closed. Pull upon; this device twice. In doing so land the tool upon the device and pull once. Then lower the tool through it and raise the tool above it Then lower the tool upon the device again and pull once more. Then lower the tool through the device which will leave it'closed. Thenland the tool upon the third device which is closed and pullonce." That will openit. The tool may there- V after be withdrawn through the upper devices withoutstopping and without changing any one of the valve positions, as is apparent inFig. 2.

While'I h'ave shown and referred to pin pockets in'the operating toolasdescribcd, it will be understoodthat suoh pockets'are employed only as a matter of nicety in finishing the tool and that they may be omitted without impairing the utility thereof. l

Itis aparent that the-operating tool may have itsends 'reversed' by attaching the cable upon the' other end, and that the tool then will pass through sucbessive devices without stopping as the tool is lowered 'When su'ch tool is withdrawn, each'device above it"Will-"be'manipulated as was described for the tool shown as it is lowered.

Any suitable means, not shown, may be provided for effecting the lowering and raising movements of the tool. It is understood that all references to positions and directions such as upper and lower, upward and downward, above and below apply to the device as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and thatsuch references are made for convenience of description only withoutexpressed or implied limitations upon the invention or its other applications.

It is obvious that many other mechanical changes, substitutions, and adaptations may be made in the construction and that equivalents may be substituted for the parts shown; and I reserve the right to make such mechanical changes, substitutions, and adaptations within All the scope of the invention as herein disclosed, as

well as to apply it to various modified and other uses.

The present application is a division of my application Ser. No. 421,934 aforesaid.

What I claim is: v

1. An operating tool for remotely controlled flow devices, said tool comprising: a rod-like shaft having peripheral slots thereupon, said slots forming a lower guide slope, an entrance slot cominunicating therewith, a first upper helically inclined cam surface opposed to said slot, an upper pin pocket at the upper end of said inclined cam surface, .a first lower helically inclined cam surface opposed and in spaced relation to said pocket, a lower pin pocket at the lower end of said lower inclined cam surface, a second upper helically inclined cam surface opposed and in spaced relation to said lower pin pocket, an exit slot at the upper end of said second upper in-,

clined cam surface, and upper guide slopes converging into said exit slot; and means for securing said shaft to a cable.

2. An operating tool for remotely controlled flow devices in the tubing of a well: a rod-like having peripheral slots thereupon, said slots forming, a lower guide slope, an entrance slot communicating therewith, a first upper helically inclined cam surface opposed to said slot, a second upper helically inclined cam surface following the first cam surface, an exit slot communicating with" said second inclined cam surface, a first lower helically inclined cam surface opposed to, spaced from, and in offset relation to said upper cam surfaces, a second lower helically inclined cam surface opposed to said exit slot, spaced from, and in opposed relation to said upper cam surfaces, and upper guide slopes converging into said exit slot; and means for securing said shaft toacable.

3. As an operating tool for remotely controlled flow devices in the tubing of a well: a rod-like shaft formed with guide slopes proximate opposite ends of said shaft, an entrance slot communieating with one of said slopes, an exit slot communicating with the other of said slopes, a first helically inclined cam surface opposed to said entrance slot, a second helically inclined cam surface opposed to said exit slot, another helically inclined cam surface in spaced and offset relation to said second cam surface, and an addi tional helically inclined cam surface in spaced and offset relation to said last cam surface, said opposed cam surfaces sloping in opposite directions, each two of said opposed-cam surfaces and one of said slots together extending 360 around said shaft; and means at one end of said shaft for connecting said shaft to means for causin movement thereof.

4. An operating tool for remotely controlled valve means having a pin: a rod like shaft having an enlarged portion formed at one end into a guide slope converging into a slot and adapted to engage said pin and formed into a double guide slope at the other end, each of said double guide slopes converging into another slot, there being a peripheral passage around said enlarged portion and formed into opposed inclined surfaces cooperable with said pin and adapted to rotate relative thereto for the purpose of causing said slots to pass over said pin as the tool is moved 

